Strickland Follows Scott As Salary-cap Casualty

HEAT NOTEBOOK

SEATTLE - — Salary-cap economics got the best of forward Mark Strickland on Tuesday much the same way they had with guard James Scott on Monday.

Strickland was released little more than 24 hours before his $247,500 contract would have been guaranteed for the season. He received a $30,000 guarantee to join the Heat in training camp.

With Scott released a day earlier, the Heat left itself with about $800,000 to spend on signing players or for use in balancing trades under the salary cap.

Coach Pat Riley said the salary-cap consolidation was significant for a team with so many ailing players. In fact, with forward Dan Majerle and point guard Gary Grant out with back injuries, Riley indicated some of that cap money could be spent soon.

"Obviously we had to make some tough decisions if we wanted to keep our flexibility," Riley said before Tuesday night's game against the Seattle SuperSonics. "We wanted maximum financial flexibility. We're concerned about the injuries to a couple of players."

Strickland's roster spot was taken by forward Tony Farmer, who had been on the injured list since the start of the season with a sore shoulder and back. Farmer dressed for a regular-season NBA game for the first time Tuesday. He played last season in France.

"I've been waiting for the opportunity," Farmer said. "I didn't know when it would arrive."

Farmer may have been saved by the Heat's decision to guarantee his $247,500 contract before the start of the season. Had the Heat been able to receive salary-cap relief with his release, it is likely he, too, would have been waived the required 48 hours in advance of the Jan. 10 NBA guarantee date.

While the Heat signed journeyman point guard John Crotty on Monday to a 10-day contract to take the place of Grant, who may be out for an extended period, it now may look for a fill-in for Majerle.

Among the options could be recently waived players such as Darrin Hancock, Aaron Williams, Devin Gray, Stephen Howard or Gaylon Nickerson.

Strickland, who was with the team during Tuesday morning's shootaround, played 53 minutes in 13 games, averaging 1.3 rebounds and 1.5 points.

No Brian Williams

One player the Heat won't be pursuing is free-agent forward Brian Williams, whom Riley expects to now sit out the season because of knee problems. While Williams recently had made visits to Dallas and Toronto, Riley said there has not been contact with him in recent weeks. ...

The Sonics have denied rumors floated in the Northwest about possible trade talks with the Kings regarding guard Mitch Richmond, the former Boyd Anderson standout. ...

Despite the end of its 14-game road winning streak on Saturday night in Utah, the Heat continued to play in its red road jerseys, which originally had been intended for use in only 12 games as a secondary road uniform.